The Old Cowtown Museum

Cowtown is a living history museum where you’ll experience life in the 1870s. Immerse yourself in a sampling of the sights, sounds and activities common to a Midwestern cattle town.

You’ll experience the dramatic clash of Victorian ideals and economic realities as these competing forces strove to create an economically viable cattle town and a Victorian metropolis.

Try a wagon ride, hear the ring of the blacksmith anvil, and visit the humble home of the town’s founder, Darius Munger. Be sure to stop at the home of the Marshall Murdock, who single-handedly promoted the town through his newspaper. After you smell what the farmer’s wife is cooking for her family, try an ice cold sarsaparilla in the saloon…but be prepared to duck in the doorway as gunfire erupts in the streets!

Special Exhibits

Cowtown's Empire Hall is home to many exhibits throughout the year that put an added spotlight on historial topics. The exhibits are included with museum admission.

Diamond W Wranglers

Wichita's historic Old Cowtown Museum is the perfect stage for the award-winning western musical entertainment of the Diamond W Wranglers.  Named by Kansas Magazine as one of "Twenty Reasons We Love Kansas," they've performed in theaters from China and Germany to Carnegie Hall and Nashville.  In Wichita they make their musical home right here in the intimate setting of Cowtown's Empire House Theater.

Sit back and enjoy their smooth harmonies and expert musicianship as the Diamond W Wranglers gallop from traditional trails to the Silver Screen Era, right up to the exciting New West. For news and a schedule of their seasonal dinner shows and other Cowtown events, please visit the Diamond W Wrangler's Web site.

For more information call 316-778-1751.

Old Cowtown Museum has  received the Home Educators Resource Directory (HERD) Seal of Approval.  The seal recognizes Cowtown's support to the homeschool community and affirms that it is an approved HERD resource.